As I said we have mostly been keeping busy. Our supply of wood got soaked in the rains and we haven't been able to dry it out completely, even though we put it in the sun on the pool deck. So we spent one day splitting and getting wood from a gentleman in the church. We have a wood-burning stove so this is just one of those changes I keep alluding to. Keeping a fire going and collecting wood are just part of the new routine. I hope it becomes habit soon so my brain can stop trying to remember it, amongst everything else.
We are still trying to find uses for all the wood we have left after the trees were cut down...this was M's first experiment with making a bench. He gave it to the girls.
SO now the area behind our house is really starting to take shape. Wood, wooden bench, girls' playhouse...what is next? I hope space!! I never thought five acres would be too small!
Emily started her two days of school. According to her when I asked what she learned, she said, "No, I didn't learn anything today. We just played." I might need to go observe. :-) Either they are just that good and she thinks she is just playing or we have a repeat of our first attempt at preschool and I am getting free childcare. I plan to do school with K on those mornings, so I am not too upset either way. She was very excited on her first day!
I am still working with her on reading and writing and math so she will not get behind.
We are prepping for K's 6th birthday. We are doing "How to Train Your Dragon 2" and she is super excited. We don't know too many people yet so it will be small and I am excited because I could get some really neat stuff for the kids. I decided to try to make some of the decorations and drew this Stormfly (her favorite dragon). I'm not gonna lie, I am pretty proud of myself. :-)
Spending time outside...that, by the way, is the lunch of champions!! I think I got the 'healthy mom of the year' award for that one alone! Don't worry, I topped it off with popcorn.
Ah, yes, we have planted four new fruit trees. We will start them in planters until we figure out where we can plant them and keep the animals away from the fruit.
Otherwise, we have been getting my parent's house ready to list. It has been a LOT of work since they have a lot of stuff outside in their yard and it all had to be removed and brought here. Also, we are just sprucing it up so it looks workable for the next owner. Please pray that it will sell and sell quickly for full price.
The ranch is going well. I haven't found a second worker yet so I am still doing half the chores. This is a little much on me as the result is that I don't want to do all the other work that needs to be done around here. Right now all of M's days off are turning into work days and I have recently decided this is no good...I kind of want the rain to come back! He just got back from San Diego for a training for work and really loves his new office. It is nice not to see him beat up after working.
As the new year sets in, we will settle into a routine - I hope - and life will be more predictable. Until then, we rely more fully on God for strength, energy and sanity; most assuredly a better place to be anyway. God bless!!
